Local leaders call for more Catholics to join in fight against abortion

Abortion numbers climbing

CHARLOTTE — As Respect Life Month draws to a close, local pro-life advocates are praying outside abortion facilities, helping mothers in need, and supporting like-minded ministries including MiraVia and Room at the Inn.

They’re also calling on Catholics to do more.

Despite the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2022 ruling in the Dobbs case, which allowed states to restrict abortion, the overall number and rate of abortions has grown nationally and in North Carolina.

Advocates say the expanded use of abortion pills, often obtained through telemedicine, is a major factor driving the increase – and they are concerned that complacency has grown after the political victory of Dobbs.

“ We need a greater sense of urgency about advancing the pro-life cause,” says Father Peter Ascik, pastor of St. Patrick Cathedral and a leader in the local pro-life movement. “I would like to see more Catholics getting involved in efforts like 40 Days for Life, Walking With Moms in Need, and helping local Pregnancy Resource Centers. These efforts can be incredibly rewarding and can help women choose to have – and support – their child.”

Ending abortion is cited by the U.S. Catholic Bishop’s as the “preeminent issue” for the Church, one that should be at the forefront of every Catholic conscience.

Yet Father Ascik sees too few people praying at abortion facilities and jumping in to help pregnant women and new mothers. Only a handful of local parishes have embraced the U.S. bishop’s call to launch a “Walking With Moms in Need” ministry, a model support program promoted by the U.S. Catholic Bishops to ensure vulnerable women and mothers can get help from every parish.

And while Catholics may support pro-life values, he says, there could be a much greater impact if a majority of the diocese’s 600,000 Catholics got involved in advocacy and assistance.

There are bright spots: Room at the Inn in Greensboro and MiraVia in Belmont, maternity homes with outreach and education programs, held successful fundraising events this month and along with donations – geared the conversation toward service.

“If we are going to be a pro-life Church…we have to do more than oppose abortion,” said RATI founder Albert Hodges, a parishioner of Our Lady of Grace. “We have to walk with these young women and help them have a better life. We are not just pro-life – we are pro-abundant life.”

The diocese’s seminarians have also stepped up. A half dozen seminarians spent Saturday, Oct. 24, praying and quietly demonstrating their pro-life values outside a Charlotte abortion center – a new ministry they intend to practice monthly.

“It was an incredible blessing to see so many parishioners and students joined us,” said seminarian David Billings. “There is strength in numbers, and if there are this many (pro-life supporters) we just need to have somebody rally them up.”

Yet, even with such efforts, the needs of mothers remain great. Father Ascik recalls a recent “Community Baby Shower” put on by the Birthright pregnancy resource center in Charlotte.

“There was a line of moms down the block – of all ages and all backgrounds – showing up just for a little bit of help,” he said. He recounts a similar turnout for Walking With Moms events at parishes in Kings Mountain and Ballantyne. “I saw a great desire for assistance, for someone to lend a hand. We need more Catholics to be that helping hand.”

Rising abortions after Dobbs

After years of decline, the number of abortions in the United States has climbed roughly 20 percent over five years – from an estimated 930,000 in 2020 to 1.126 million in 2025, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a national research organization focused on reproductive health, contraception and increasing access to abortion.

The abortion mail-order pill available through telehealth has contributed significantly to the rise in abortion, especially since the FDA lifted requirements for in-person doctor visits and prescriptions in 2021.

Paired with the creation of shield laws, which bar repercussions for mailing pills across state lines, mail-order abortions now account for some 29% of all abortions, according to the Society of Family Planning, a research nonprofit. An unknown number may also be achieved by ordering abortion pills from various websites.

Pro-life efforts have been focused on raising awareness of the dangers of this abortion method. Among them: The Diocese of Charlotte’s Dr. Matthew Harrison’s abortion reversal pill and the new NC Right to Life “Don’t Swallow the Lie” campaign.

While North Carolina prohibits providers from prescribing abortion pills via telehealth, shield laws in other states enable women to receive pills from other states without penalty – accounting for an estimated 10,000 abortions in North Carolina in 2025, according to the Society of Family Planning.

Destination State

North Carolina has also become a hub for women traveling from other states to receive abortions. Surrounding states have either banned or limited abortions to six weeks, while North Carolina still allows abortions for up to 12 weeks. The differences have put North Carolina among the top “destination states” in the country, according to the Guttmacher Institute.

In 2020, before the Dobbs ruling, about 17% of North Carolina abortions were performed for women coming from out-of-state. In 2025, they accounted for 37% of the state’s 48,000 abortions, according to Guttmacher Institute.

The upward trend – and the sheer number – of abortions taking place in our state should be a call to action, says Father Ascik.

Steady witness

The Church and other organizations offer many ways Catholics can help protect the unborn and their mothers.

Father Ascik praises the courageous lay people who are leaders in pro-life work. He also believes priests have an important role to play in preaching clearly about the Church’s position. He encourages them to throw out euphemisms and address the issue head-on.
“Speaking transparently in the pulpit about fundamental moral issues is essential, and I think people are longing for that. When you have to talk about something controversial, I believe it is much better to be clear.”
Known for his quick smile and pleasant demeanor, Father Ascik grows somber while talking about the current state of abortion.

“I think about the children who are being lost,” he says, “and the pain their mothers and fathers will carry at the loss of their children.”

“Abortion is such an important issue because at the heart of it, if it is okay to kill a child in the womb, anything can be justified. Mothers who are facing challenges need our care and support.

But we have to be clear that whatever the problem is, the answer is not to kill a human being.”

— Lisa M. Geraci